North Norfolk MP urges government to simplify reservoir planning for drought relief
MP calls for fewer planning barriers to combating water issues
Steff Aquarone, the Member of Parliament for North Norfolk, is pushing for changes to planning rules to aid farmers in building small-scale reservoirs.
Steff is advocating for an overhaul of permitted development regulations in agriculture to eliminate excessive requirements and delays affecting those aiming to enhance water security.
In recent correspondence with the Minister for Planning, Steff appealed for policy alterations that would ease the construction of on-farm reservoirs in areas like North Norfolk, which has been grappling with drought after periods of flooding.
“Very often I feel that Westminster isn’t working for rural Norfolk - this is another example,
We are an area in drought, but that also suffers from floods, but the Government won’t make it easier for us to reduce flooding and prepare for droughts - it’s ludicrous!"
His efforts are part of a broader initiative addressing water issues, including organizing a public meeting in Hickling and advocating for flood preparedness discussions in Norfolk's parliamentary sessions
Steff also warned that Norfolk’s chalk streams are already under pressure from low river flows and abstraction, and farmers want to be less reliant on them, but "they can’t be faced with extra costs and bureaucracy which they cannot handle when they are already stretched to the limit."
Steff shared a direct message to the Prime Minister: "If they want to get on and deliver something which will help us in rural Norfolk, then this is an easy win. My message to Andy Burnham is: get on with it!”
We have contacted the Government for comment.